Squadron returns after seven months in Afghanistan

Andrea Noel and her husband, returning Staff Sgt. Brian Noel, and daughter Kayla are reunited during the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron's homecoming aboard Air Station New River Thursday morning.

Maria Sestito / The Daily News

By CHRISTOPHER THOMAS Daily News Staff

Published: Friday, November 22, 2013 at 07:45 AM.

Nearly 200 Marines from the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) returned to Marine Corps Air Station New River just before dawn Thursday morning following a seven-month deployment to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

For Staff Sgt. Brian Goff, it was an especially happy reunion. Though he was returning from his fourth deployment, it was his first as a married man.

“This makes it all the sweeter,” Goff said. “I’m looking forward to catching up with them.”

Goff said the difference between deploying as a bachelor and as a husband is an added sense of responsibility he felt not only among his fellow Marines in Afghanistan, but also the new responsibilities he had to his wife back in the United States more than 7,000 miles way.

“There’s always something that needs fixing, but you can’t be there,” Goff said. “Before, you only have to worry about yourself, but now I have to worry about what’s going on overseas as well as what’s going on back home.”

Greeting him at the hangar was his wife, Andrea, as well as his two dogs, Axle and Zeus. Andrea Goff said this was her first time dealing with a deployment as she did not come from a military background. She said she didn’t know what to expect, and the experience is beyond words.

“There’s no way you can describe it,” Andrea Goff said. “You have to go through it to understand what it’s about.”

Nearly 200 Marines from the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) returned to Marine Corps Air Station New River just before dawn Thursday morning following a seven-month deployment to the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

For Staff Sgt. Brian Goff, it was an especially happy reunion. Though he was returning from his fourth deployment, it was his first as a married man.

“This makes it all the sweeter,” Goff said. “I’m looking forward to catching up with them.”

Goff said the difference between deploying as a bachelor and as a husband is an added sense of responsibility he felt not only among his fellow Marines in Afghanistan, but also the new responsibilities he had to his wife back in the United States more than 7,000 miles way.

“There’s always something that needs fixing, but you can’t be there,” Goff said. “Before, you only have to worry about yourself, but now I have to worry about what’s going on overseas as well as what’s going on back home.”

Greeting him at the hangar was his wife, Andrea, as well as his two dogs, Axle and Zeus. Andrea Goff said this was her first time dealing with a deployment as she did not come from a military background. She said she didn’t know what to expect, and the experience is beyond words.

“There’s no way you can describe it,” Andrea Goff said. “You have to go through it to understand what it’s about.”

Maj. Matt Humphrey, the executive officer for HMLA-167, said he was proud of the men and women returning from their service in Afghanistan. During their deployment, the squadron provided close air support for fighting infantry units, transportation for Marines and escorts for medical helicopters transporting the wounded. Humphrey said the sacrifices made by the returning members of the HMLA-167 were tremendous.

“They haven’t seen their families in seven months, and that’s a big sacrifice to make for something that’s beyond self,” Humphrey said.

This deployment was also first for Krystal Schwidt and her husband, Cpl. Benjamin Schwidt, who worked as a mechanic with the HMLA-167 while in Afghanistan. Cpl. Schwidt said his advice for Marines preparing for their first time overseas is to hang tough, despite the challenges they’re bound to face, including time apart from loved ones.

“Keep your head down, hang in there and take it one day at a time,” Schwidt said.

Krystal Schwidt held their 10-month-old daughter, Brodi, in her arms as she greeted her husband, who took in the changes to the youngest member of their household.

“She looks totally different,” he said. “She’s already walking.”

Krystal Schwidt said it was an “honor” to be a Marine Corps spouse. She said she looked most forward to spending time with her husband and daughter as a reunited family.

“We’re going to have lots of time playing together,” she said.

Christopher Thomas is a staff writer at The Daily News. Contact him at 910-219-8473 or Christopher.Thomas@JDNews.com.